Like many people, Justin Holiday of the Indiana Pacers has done a great deal of thinking and reflecting on the events of the past few months. Motivated by his faith in Christ, Holiday is determined to act and use the NBA’s return at the end of July to continue the fight for social justice.
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“Admittedly, in the past, whenever the issue of social injustice would arise, I’d allow myself to move on from the pain, resorting to bowing my head and praying feverishly to the Lord — and then doing little thereafter,” Holiday wrote in a piece for The Players’ Tribune. “I was worried about speaking out and losing my job.
“But I fear that no more.
“In fact, the word of God has moved me from a place of fear to a position of empowerment, from which I am now seeking every available avenue to contribute to the advancement of the cause of social justice. James 2:26 says, ‘Faith, by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.'”
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”
1 Corinthians 4:20 NIV https://t.co/okD4OvVr3Z— Justin Holiday (@JustHolla7) May 24, 2020
Holiday stressed in the Player’s Tribune article that pointing out things like racial inequality does not imply a lack of appreciation or gratitude. Through “education, correction and commitment,” he said the United States can learn from past mistakes and create a more just society for all.
Holiday ended the article with a challenge for everyone to “know better and do better,” as well as a promise to use his platform.
“We deserve to be loved, supported and respected, and I am committed to making a change, and that change will be reflected through doing my job,” Holiday said. “Come July 30, when games resume, you can expect an explosion of athleticism and focus from me, coupled with an unparalleled passion for philanthropy and human rights — rights my people have been striving to achieve for decades.”
The 31-year-old was averaging 8.4 points per game and shooting 42.4 percent from 3-point range before the NBA season was suspended on March 11. The Pacers will hold the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference when league play returns.
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